California Connections Academy @ North Bay, a New Virtual Charter School for Grades K–12, Approved to Open for the 2014–2015 School Year

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. (January 21, 2014) – Families with children in grades K–12 residing in seven counties in the North Bay area will soon have a new, innovative public school option. California Connections Academy @ North Bay, a virtual public charter school, has been approved by the Middletown Unified School District for the 2014–2015 school year. The new school will begin enrollment this spring for the fall 2014 semester.

California Connections Academy @ North Bay will offer a high-quality, highly accountable education option for students in grades K–12 from the following counties: Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Colusa, Glenn and Yolo. Overseeing the school will be the school’s non-profit governing board, Alpaugh Academies.

“At the Middletown Unified School District, we believe that each student should have an opportunity to achieve academic success with a tailored approach that meets his or her learning needs,” said Dr. Korby Olson, superintendent of the Middletown Unified School District. “We’re proud to partner with Alpaugh Academies to bring California Connections Academy @ North Bay and this new education option to families in the greater North Bay area.”

All California Connections Academy @ North Bay students will participate in the nationally accredited Connections Academy program that combines high quality resources from leading publishers with cutting-edge, yet easy-to-use, technology and hands-on materials. Learning from home, students will work closely with licensed California teachers using detailed daily lesson plans that can be personalized to meet individual student needs.

A parent, or another adult “Learning Coach,” is responsible for their student’s day-to-day activities and monitors progress in the home, and also interacts frequently with their teachers.

California Connections Academy @ North Bay is expected to serve a wide range of students, including those who are significantly ahead or behind in the classroom, those who need a flexible schedule or learn at a different pace from their peers, and those who need more individualized attention or live in isolated rural settings. Homebound and previously home-schooled students can also thrive in Connections Academy’s program.

Interaction between teachers and students will be frequent. Accountability is central to the school’s mission and students must meet the same levels of accountability and complete the same state standardized tests as students in traditional public schools.

“The existing schools we support in California have grown dramatically over the course of the last decade, proving that families in these counties are embracing the opportunity to learn in education environments outside of the traditional brick-and-mortar school,” said Barbara Dreyer, president of Connections Academy. “We look forward to bringing this option to families in California’s North Bay through our partnership with Alpaugh Academies and the Middletown Unified School District.”

“Through our work with California Connections Academy, we’ve had an opportunity to experience firsthand how students thrive when their academic offerings are individualized with the Connections Academy program and curriculum,” said Dave Souza, board president of Alpaugh Academies. “I, along with the other board members, look forward to kicking off the 2014–2015 school year with California Connections Academy @ North Bay’s inaugural class and providing online school access to students throughout the North Bay area.”

Families seeking more information about California Connections Academy @ North Bay and its approach to personalized public education can visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com or call 800–382–6010. Informational meetings will take place throughout the area starting in spring 2014. California Connections Academy @ North Bay joins 26 Connections Academy-supported schools across the country.

About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual schooling for students in grades K through 12. Through tuition-free public schools, and full-time and part-time private school programs, Connections Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience our online learning community from anywhere. The combination of certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. In the 2013–14 school year, Connections Academy will serve students in 23 states via 26 virtual public schools. It serves students worldwide through the online private school, International Connections Academy. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some public school programs do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800–382–6010 or visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy and its parent company, Connections Education, are part of the global learning company Pearson (NYSE:PSO) www.Pearson.com.